Sikeston vs. Ozark, Friday, 12:10 PM
St. Francis Borgia vs. Lincoln Prep Academy, Friday, 1:45 PM
SIKESTON—The Bulldogs are in the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown for only the second time in school history. In 1995, Sikeston lost both games in the Class 4A championships and finished fourth. The Bulldogs have gotten leadership from an inexperienced source this season. Freshman center Michael Porter has emerged as the team leader in 2005-2006, leading the team with 15.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Earlier this season, they were just 9-6 and had lost three in a row before going on their current 13 game winning streak.
Head coach: Gregg Holifield (255-168)
Record: 22-6
Current winning streak: 13
Semifinal appearances: 1
State titles: 1 (1995)
Sectionals: 64-45, DeSoto
Quarterfinals: 62-54, St. James
Leaders
•Scoring: Michael Porter, 15.3 ppg, Julian Beard 13.4 ppg
•Rebounds: Michael Porter, 7.2 rpg
•Assists: Isaac Porter, 4 apg, Kash Bratcher, 3.6 apg
OZARK—The Tigers are trying to win their second Class 4 title in three years and they’re doing it with a great deal of youth. Ozark comes into the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown with just one senior on the team, guard Ben York. OHS has forced its way into the final four with defense: during their current six-game winning streak, they’ve allowed just 42 points per game.
Head coach: Steve Hunter (415-184)
Record: 21-9
Current winning streak: 6
Semifinal appearances: 6
State titles: 2 (1950, 2003)
Sectionals: 60-55, Webb City
Quarterfinals: 46-32, Logan-Rogersville
Leaders
•Scoring: Tyler Oakley, 16.2 ppg
•Rebounds: Tyler Oakley, 10.2 rpg
•Assists: Morris Berger, 4.5 apg
ST. FRANCIS BORGIA—The Knights are making their first trip to Columbia since thief semifinal appearance in 1999. Borgia won three state championships between 1993 and 1998. This season, they come to the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown with a 14- game winning streak. This season, they’ve averaged 74 points per game and only five teams have been able to score more than 60 on them this season. Borgia’s only loss was on January 18, when they fell 72-64 at CBC.
Head coach: Dave Neier (455-105)
Record: 28-1
Current winning streak: 14
Semifinal appearances: 6
State titles: 3 (1993, ’94, ‘98)
Sectionals: 68-55, Duchesne
Quarterfinals: 86-54, Jennings
Leaders
•Scoring: Alex Moosmann, 23.8 ppg, Paul Eckerle, 16.1 ppg
•Rebounds: Pat Boland, 5.5 rpg, Shea Carr, 49. rpg
•Assists: David Holdmeier 5.4 apg
LINCOLN PREP ACADEMY—-The Tigers have proven that you don’t need a lot of players…just the right players—head coach Andy Jackson has nine players on his squad but has used just eight of them. They come into the Class 4 semifinals on the heels of an amazing performance by senior guard Domonique Johnson, who scored 46 points in their 76-60 quarterfinal win over Lee’s Summit West. Lincoln Prep will try to gain their first win in four trips to the final four—they’re 0-6 in Columbia. Their only loss of the season was a 48-37 defeat at Raytown South on January 21.
Head coach: Andy Jackson (623-198)
Record: 28-1
Current winning streak: 11
Semifinal appearances: 3
State titles: 0
Sectionals: 66-31, Excelsior Springs
Quarterfinals: 75-60, Lee’s Summit West
Leaders
•Scoring: Domonique Johnson, 19.6 ppg
•Rebounds: Brandon Coleman, 12 rpg, Greg Smith, 10.8, rpg
•Assists: Domonique Johnson 4.25 apg